Michael Hodgson

Background

About Michael Hodgson

Qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1997. Was in legal practice in UK until end 2006/start 2007. Obtained an MA in Screenwriting following two years part time study whilst working as a lawyer. Was awarded Lynda La Plante Screenwriting Prize Shortlisted for it in Have attended numerous writing and producing courses in London and LA. Resident in Cambodia since early 2007 and initially worked as a graduate school administrator/lecturer where I set up the first university level Screenwriting course in Cambodian history. I worked with Cambodian writers to help them develop scripts and one of my students, previously a non-writer, was awarded a prize by the BBC World Service Trust for a script she wrote. I was Pro-Consul at the British Embassy in Phnom Penh for 2 and 1/2 years where I was responsible for emergency planning, developing a warden's network, prison and hospital visiting, was part of the Regional Resilience network and a member of the Embassy's Green Team which won the Foreign Secretary's Award for Greening the FCO. Much as I enjoyed working for the Foreign Office I was offered a position at Leopard Capital, the premier private equity fund in Cambodia. I worked as an in house lawyer for Leopard and was involved in a number of complex transactions involving debt/equity restructuring. Leopard pioneered private equity in Cambodia. I taught F4 English business law to ACCA accountancy students at the premier business school in Cambodia - CAMED - part-time for 4 years where I managed to get the F4 pass rate to exceed the global average pass rate for the first time. A tremendous achievement which is down to the hard work and dedication of the students there. A former board member of the International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP)- I was the Project Coordinator for the construction of the school campus for 3 years until 2015 when I became the Operations Administrator at ISPP with managerial oversight on numerous departments as well as providing guidance on legal issues that impact the school. In September 2015 I was honoured to be made a Commander of the Royal Order of Sahametrei. Specialties: Legal, negotiation, editing and drafting skills. In my spare time I write movies- including the acclaimed Jailbreak which was the first Cambodian film on Netflix (apart from Angelina Jolie's, Netflix financed,"First They Killed My Father"). I am experienced in construction & facilities development & management and am NEBOSH qualified IGC Occupational Safety & Health.